Machine for manufacturing ampullae, particularly pharmaceutical ampullae

Abstract

A machine for the manufacture of ampullae, particularly pharmaceutical ampullae, of the type according to which the ampullae are formed from sticks of glass. The machine has an automatic control device for sequentially introducing, at a determined position in said path, thelower end of each of the sticks of the bundle into a stick guide and supply scoop between the two corresponding mandrels. Principal applications: manufacture of pharmaceutical ampullae.

I claim: 
     
       1. A machine for the manufacture of glass ampoules having a generally cylindrical intermediate body and tapered frangible ends comprising: a stationary frame;   a table mounted on said frame for rotation about a vertical axis;   a plurality of work stations carried by said table in peripherally spaced relation, each said work station including a scoop member, a pair of mandrels spaced vertically from each other and in vertical alignment with said scoop member, the lower one of said mandrels being slidable relative to the upper one of said mandrels, means for effecting the vertical displacement of said lower mandrel relative to said upper mandrel according to a predetermined cyclical pattern, and means for opening and closing said mandrels at predetermined times;   a plurality of heat emitting stations mounted on said frame in uniformly spaced relation about said table at a level between said upper and lower mandrels;   means for storing a plurality of hollow glass tubes on said table in substantially vertical position in proximity to each of said work stations and for feeding individual ones of said glass tubes to the associated work station on the table by introduction of the lower end of such glass tube into the scoop of such work station wherein each said storing and feeding means includes a support plate tilted downwardly towards the corresponding scoop for supporting said plurality of glass tubes, said plate having a guide spout with an outlet located at a level higher than that of the upper edge of said scoop.   
     
     
       2. A machine according to claim 1, including pivotable closing means for each said plates formed so that, when the closing means are actuated, they allow the lower end of one of said glass tubes to enter the associated scoop while simultaneously preventing discharge of the following glass tube from the support plate. 
     
     
       3. A machine according to claim 2, wherein each said closing means is formed by a member pivotable about an axis substantially parallel to the axes of the glass tubes and having a concave nose-piece closing the outlet of said spout when said member is in a rest position and serving also as a stop for the lower end of the next glass tube to be supplied to the mandrels, each said member having a heel which leaves the passage of said spout free in said rest position, the arrangement being such that, when said member pivots, said nose-piece allows the next glass tube to pass towards the scoop, whereas the heel, which at that time is closing the spout, prevents the following glass tube from discharging from the plate. 
     
     
       4. A machine according to claim 3, including a push rod integral with said closing member, a return spring operatively connected to said closing member normally biasing same towards its rest position, and a movable stop carried by said frame engageable with successive ones of said push rods to cause sequential pivoting of the closing members. 
     
     
       5. A machine according to claim 4, including an electro-magnet for selectively actuating said movable stop. 
     
     
       6. A machine according to claim 5, including a programmer for supplying the said electro-magnet with current.